Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has been backed for the England job by a former team-mate.

The FA are drawing up a shortlist of contenders to replace Roy Hodgson, who stood down in the aftermath of the Three Lions’ Euro 2016 exit.

Allardyce is a 7/2 favourite with some bookies, ahead of the likes of Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klinsmann and Guus Hiddink.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Jermain Defoe and Kevin Davies have given their support to the Black Cats manager’s cause.

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And ex-Huddersfield Town colleague Dale Tempest - now a betting expert - believes the 61-year-old has “good quality to offer” and that now is the “right place, right time”.

“I never thought I would be saying this, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for my old mate Big Sam to be the next England manager,” said Tempest, who scored 27 goals in 65 league games for the Terriers.

“He is favourite for the job and it could be a case of right place, right time.

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“It feels to me there is a push for some straightforward talking and thinking on the England front, and Sam would certainly fit the bill on that score.

“People have tended to talk about him preferring a long-ball game, but when Sam has had better players to work with throughout his career he has played some very stylish football as well.”

Speaking to the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Tempest said: “If England are chasing a game, like they were against Iceland, I don’t think you would see them static and passing the ball across the back under Sam’s management.

“There would have been a 6ft 4in centre forward on and they would have been piling in to put the opposition under pressure.

“I really do think he has good quality to offer and the job he did at Sunderland last season was nothing short of a miracle.

“He went and took charge of a team of supposedly top professionals who were massively underperforming, brought in one or two unheard of players and quickly created a system and style that suited the squad.

“That’s why I’ve got my fingers crossed and it might just be the right time to let Big Sam take the reins.”